093_HJ0001

 
                                     LRB093 02609 KEF 02619 r

 1                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, On April 19th, 1775 a skirmish took place near a
 3    bridge at Concord, Massachusetts; and

 4        WHEREAS, In the early hours of that day, three  patriots,
 5    Paul  Revere,  William  Dawes,  and Dr. Samuel Prescott, rode
 6    through the streets to warn  fellow  colonists  that  British
 7    troops  had  been assembled and were advancing with intention
 8    of  capturing  the  colonists'  leaders  and  seizing   their
 9    supplies; and

10        WHEREAS,  Answering  the alarm, men and women congregated
11    on the Village Green in Lexington on the morning of April 19,
12    1775, took up arms, and commenced the struggle that would end
13    England's control of the colonies; and

14        WHEREAS, "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" was  fired  in
15    Concord   by   determined   patriots   from   the   Middlesex
16    countryside,  who  confronted  the  "Redcoats" and ultimately
17    forced the British to turn back at North Bridge; and

18        WHEREAS, Minutemen, militia, and  colonists  from  cities
19    and towns throughout the Commonwealth joined forces along the
20    battle   road  at  Menotomy,  now  known  as  Arlington,  and
21    overpowered the retreating British; and

22        WHEREAS,  To  commemorate  this  event  and  the  ensuing
23    struggle waged by brave colonial patriots, it is  appropriate
24    to celebrate April 19th of each year; therefore, be it

25        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
26    NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  THE
27    SENATE  CONCURRING  HEREIN,  that  we designate April 19th of
28    each year as "Patriots Day" in the State of Illinois for  the
29    purpose  of  recognizing  and commemorating the day patriotic
30    colonists fired the "shot heard  round  the  world"  and  the
31    start of the American Revolution; and be it further
 
                            -2-      LRB093 02609 KEF 02619 r
 1        RESOLVED,  That  the  people of this State and all public
 2    and private entities are urged to observe "Patriots  Day"  by
 3    engaging   in   appropriate  activities  that  recognize  and
 4    commemorate this  nation's  revolutionary  struggle  and  the
 5    ideals  and  principles for which the American Revolution was
 6    fought; and be it further

 7        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 8    presented to the Sons of the American Revolution.